"He (William Nygard) wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for me. I was promised it wouldn't happen," a state police drug informant testified yesterday for the defense in a Monroe County Court trial.

Thomas Wiswall of the Locust Lake development in the county, seemed almost apologetic to Nygard of Swiftwater, Pocono Township, who is on trial on four counts of possession and possession with intent to deliver cocaine, as he made that statement.

Wiswall, who identified himself as an ex-addict "with access to people with drugs," said he approached the state police to help them with stopping the drug traffic. But, Wiswall explained in response to questions posed by defense counsel Robert Rosenblum, his purpose was to "get Albert Hodge for selling drugs in schools, and I wanted to see Hodge arrested."

Hodge, of Smithfield Township, was one of several people ultimately arrested on charges of being a major dealer in cocaine.

Wiswall said that Nygard and he had worked together as time-share land salesmen for about a year and he knew that Nygard was socially acquainted with Hodge. "I knew that Bill would do me a favor," he said.

When he met with state police trooper Thomas Stern and Cpl. Ralph Marietti, both members of the drug strike force, Wiswall said he did not tell them about Nygard. Wiswall said he had been with Nygard in the Hodge home but he had never seen Nygard use or sell drugs. He felt Nygard could lead police to Hodge because of their "social association." Wiswall said he had to contact Nygard many times on the telephone and coax him to get the cocaine for him because he needed the money to pay bills and his electric had been shut off.

Finally, he said, Nygard sold him $800 worth of cocaine, the purchase made in the men's room at The Big A tavern, Smithfield Township. He contradicted state police testimony given Thursday by saying that police remained in his car and had no personal contact with Nygard at that time.

Wiswall said that when Marietti was finally introduced to Nygard by Stern, Marietti was introduced as a member of the Mafia from Philadelphia and involved with a basketball team. "It was obvious that he (Marietti) was carrying a gun," and Nygard "got made at me because I got him in too deep," Wiswall testified.

Marietti, he said, told Nygard, "When you're in, you're in for keeps. We know where you live and where your kids get on the school bus."

"It was a game they were playing to get to Hodge, but he (Nygard) didn't know that," Wiswall continued. "He was upset and tearful."

Wiswall seemed to be apologetic to Nygard as he was testifying. "He (Nygard) wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for me," Wiswall testified. "I was promised it wouldn't happen to him. We only wanted to get Hodge."

Wiswall said that he was paid $700 in cash by police and given drugs - "cocaine . . . but it was methamphetamines." He said that Sterns had bought an ounce, and Wiswall used the drugs with another officer "associated with this case." He couldn't identify the officer. Wiswall admitted that he had "overdosed and lost consciousness."

Wiswall said the only officers that he did have contact with were Sterns, Marietti and Richard A. Ford, a former state police undercover strike force member, now working for the Drug Enforcement Administration. All three officers gave testimony as prosecution witnesses.

Defense testimony will be resumed at 9:30 a.m. Monday.

Final prosecution witnesses yesterday were Stern and Marietti. Stern said he met with Nygard on Feb. 25, 1985, to arrange to buy a kilo of cocaine for $56,000. The next day, Stern said, Nygard told him he was having some problems getting the cocaine.

Stern said Nygard told him on a third day that the "time wasn't right" and, "He had another source he was working on." Stern said he called Nygard during the first week of March and Nygard told him he was "having some problems in the area because of some drug busts."

"He said there was no snow (cocaine) in the mountain," Stern testified, saying Nygard told him he would be contacting him later "because his source 'backed off after the arrests.' "

On March 13, according to Stern, Nygard called for another meeting and the purchase was discussed further. On March 21, Stern said, the $56,000 purchase of thekilo of cocaine was made at the Chateau at Camelback, Pocono Township.

After the purchase was completed and field tests of the white powder were made by Marietti, Stern said, Nygard was arrested.

During cross-examination by defense counsel, Stern said he introduced Marietti to Nygard as a "well-connected person," but not exactly to the Mafia. He said he led Nygard to believe that Marietti owned a basketball team and he worked for him.

Stern said that at the Feb. 26 meeting Nygard told police he didn't have the kilo of cocaine because it had "been broken into and 3 ounces was missing." He wanted to give them a sealed package. Stern said that he had shown the $56,000 to Nygard even though Nygard said it wasn't necessary.

Marietti reiterated Stern's testimony involving the $56,000 purchase of the kilo of cocaine, adding that while "I was field-testing the cocaine, Nygard was counting the money."

He said that when he made the arrest, he handed Nygard his badge in a feminine napkin disposable bag as a distraction for the arrest. They took Nygard into custody as he was unwrapping the badge.

Marietti said he was "wired" during the transaction, relaying the conversation to other police officers in an adjoining motel room. He also testified that Nygard had been videotaped during the Feb. 26 meeting.

Testimony in the trial of Fredericka Cahn of Cresco, Barrett Township, charged with possession and sale of cocaine, will be resumed Monday morning before Judge Peter J. O'Brien.